Best Gun Lock 2026: Trigger Locks, Cable Locks & Combination Locks Compared

Quick Answer: The best gun lock for most owners in 2026 is the Master Lock 90DSPT keyed trigger lock — an inexpensive steel-and-zinc lock that blocks the trigger on a pistol, rifle, or shotgun in seconds. Households with more than one firearm should look at the Master Lock 90TRISPT 3-pack, which uses a single key across every gun, while the FJM Security SX-105 combination lock removes the key entirely with a resettable 3-dial code. For rifles and shotguns moved between a truck and a safe, the Lockdown 15-inch cable lock threads through the action instead of just the trigger guard. Everytown for Gun Safety's #NotAnAccident tracking found more than 8 in 10 unintentional shooting deaths among children from 2015 to 2024 involved a firearm stored both loaded and unlocked, and CDC survey data show households that lock both their firearms and their ammunition cut their risk of an unintentional firearm death by 85% compared with households that lock neither.

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A gun lock is the cheapest, most portable layer of firearm safety you can own — a trigger lock or cable lock costs less than a box of ammunition and takes seconds to apply, whether the gun is riding in a truck console, sitting in a nightstand drawer, or waiting to go into a full gun safe at the end of the day. Every handgun sold in the U.S. is legally required to ship with a compatible locking device, yet a lock left in the box does nothing — Everytown for Gun Safety's #NotAnAccident tracking recorded at least 3,580 unintentional shootings by children age 17 and under between 2015 and 2024, resulting in 1,382 deaths, and found that more than 8 in 10 of those deaths involved a gun that was stored both loaded and unlocked.

The choice that actually matters is not brand — it is lock type and how you control the key or combination. A trigger lock clamps over the trigger guard of one firearm; a cable lock threads through the action or magazine well and works across pistols, rifles, and shotguns of different shapes, and can secure several guns to one cable at once. We compared the best gun locks of 2026 on lock type, firearm compatibility, and key vs. combination access.

Gun Locks by the Numbers

• 3,580+ incidents, 1,382 deaths: Everytown for Gun Safety's #NotAnAccident index recorded at least 3,580 unintentional shootings by children 17 and under from 2015-2024, killing 1,382 and wounding 2,317.
• More than 8 in 10: Everytown found over 80% of those deaths involved a firearm stored both loaded and unlocked — for children ages 0-5 specifically, that figure rises to 99%.
• 85% lower risk: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data show households that lock both their firearms and their ammunition separately have an 85% lower risk of an unintentional firearm death than households that lock neither.

Quick Picks: Best Gun Locks

• Best Overall: Master Lock 90DSPT Keyed Trigger Lock — steel-and-zinc body, rubber pads, single key
• Best for Multiple Firearms: Master Lock 90TRISPT (3-pack, keyed alike) — one key unlocks every gun in the set
• Best No-Key / Combination: FJM Security SX-105 — 3-dial lock with 1,000 possible combinations
• Best for Rifles & Shotguns: Lockdown 15" Cable Gun Lock — threads through the action, California DOJ-approved design

Top 4 Best Gun Locks Reviewed

1. Master Lock 90DSPT Keyed Trigger Lock — Best Overall

The Master Lock 90DSPT is the trigger lock we recommend to almost everyone: a steel-and-zinc body that clamps over the trigger guard of a pistol, rifle, or shotgun in seconds, with rubber pads on the contact points so it will not mar a firearm's finish. It ships with a single key and no batteries, dials, or apps to manage.

Key Features:

• Steel-and-zinc body designed to resist cutting or prying
• Rubber-padded contact points protect the firearm's finish
• Fits standard trigger guards on pistols, rifles, and shotguns
• Single-key operation, no batteries required
• From Master Lock, a padlock brand with decades in mechanical security

A gun that cannot fire is a gun a curious child, a houseguest, or a burglar cannot use against anyone in the home. If you buy one lock tonight for the nightstand gun or the truck pistol, make it this one.

2. Master Lock 90TRISPT (3-Pack, Keyed Alike) — Best for Multiple Firearms

The Master Lock 90TRISPT is the same rubber-padded steel-and-zinc trigger lock as the 90DSPT, sold as a keyed-alike 3-pack — every lock opens with the same key, so a household with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol can secure all three without juggling separate keys for each one.

Key Features:

• Three trigger locks, all keyed alike to one key
• Same steel-and-zinc, rubber-padded construction as the single-pack 90DSPT
• Fits pistols, rifles, and shotguns
• One key to track instead of three
• Lower per-lock cost than buying three single units

For a household securing more than one firearm, one key for the whole set is simpler to manage — and simpler means it actually gets used every time. Keep that single key on its own ring, away from house and car keys.

3. FJM Security SX-105 — Best No-Key / Combination

The FJM Security SX-105 replaces the key with a 3-dial combination offering roughly 1,000 possible codes, so there is no physical key to lose, hide, or hand off to a family member. Its oversized 1-inch posts also fit larger trigger guards that a slimmer keyed lock can struggle with.

Key Features:

• 3-dial combination lock, no key required
• Roughly 1,000 possible combinations, resettable by the owner
• 1-inch posts fit larger-than-average trigger guards
• Steel construction with a padded body
• Sold in single units and multi-packs

A combination lock only stays secure if the code stays private — set one you have not reused elsewhere, and never enter it where a child watching over your shoulder could memorize the sequence.

4. Lockdown 15" Cable Gun Lock — Best for Rifles & Shotguns

The Lockdown 15" Cable Gun Lock threads a vinyl-coated steel cable through the action or magazine well rather than clamping onto a trigger guard, which makes it the more flexible choice for long guns with irregular trigger-guard shapes, or for locking several firearms together on one cable. Its design follows California DOJ-approved specifications for a firearm safety device.

Key Features:

• Vinyl-coated steel cable threads through the action or magazine well
• Works across pistols, rifles, and shotguns regardless of trigger-guard shape
• Can secure multiple firearms on one cable
• Keyed lock body with two included keys
• Built to California DOJ-approved firearm safety device specifications

For a rifle or shotgun that moves between a truck rack, a closet, and a range bag, a cable lock adapts to shapes a rigid trigger lock cannot. Pair it with our best rifle safe picks for the guns that stay home.

Gun Lock Comparison Chart

How to Choose a Gun Lock

Trigger Lock vs. Cable Lock vs. Safe

A trigger lock clamps over the trigger guard and physically blocks the trigger from moving — simple, cheap, and fast, but sized for one firearm at a time and best matched to a standard trigger-guard shape. A cable lock threads through the action or magazine well instead, so it adapts to irregular shapes and can secure multiple guns on one cable, which is why several state approved-device lists (including California's) accept cable locks more broadly than trigger locks. Neither replaces a gun safe: a lock stops the gun from firing, but only a bolted-down steel safe stops the gun itself from being carried out the door — see our gun safe buying guide for sizing and fire-rating advice.

Keyed vs. Combination

A keyed lock is simple and hard to defeat without the physical key, but that key has to live somewhere — on a separate ring away from house and car keys, not in an obvious nightstand drawer. A combination lock removes the key-loss risk entirely, but only if the code stays private; entering it in view of a child who is watching and memorizing defeats the purpose just as fast as leaving a key in the open. A keyed-alike multi-gun set like the 90TRISPT is convenient, but remember that one lost or copied key compromises every gun secured with it.

A Trigger Lock Alone Isn't the Full CDC Number

The CDC's widely cited 85% risk-reduction figure applies specifically to households that lock both their firearms and their ammunition separately — not to a trigger lock on a loaded gun by itself. A trigger lock still does real work: it physically blocks the trigger regardless of whether a round is chambered, so it stops an untrained hand from firing the gun. But it does not stop someone with the key or code from unlocking and loading it, and it is not a substitute for storing ammunition in a separate locked location if you want the full protection the CDC data describes. Treat a lock as one layer, not the whole plan.

Check Your State's Storage Law Before You Buy

Requirements vary widely: Massachusetts requires a trigger lock or a safe for every stored firearm, several states require a locking device specifically when a minor could access the gun, and federal law requires every handgun sold at retail to include a compatible device. Some states, including California, maintain an official list of approved firearm safety devices — confirm a lock is on that list before relying on it to satisfy a legal requirement, rather than assuming any trigger or cable lock qualifies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do trigger locks work on a loaded gun?

Most trigger locks physically block the trigger guard from being pulled regardless of whether the gun is loaded, but manufacturers and most state statutes still recommend unloading the firearm before locking it. A trigger lock is a mechanical barrier to firing, not a substitute for safe-handling basics like keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and storing ammunition separately.

Are gun locks required by law?

It depends on your state. Massachusetts requires a trigger lock or a safe for all stored firearms, several other states require a locking device when a minor could access the gun, and federal law requires every handgun sold to include a compatible locking device. Check your specific state and local statutes, since requirements and approved-device lists vary.

What's the difference between a trigger lock and a cable lock?

A trigger lock clamps over the trigger guard of a single handgun, rifle, or shotgun to physically block the trigger. A cable lock threads a steel cable through the action or magazine well, which works across pistols, rifles, and shotguns of different shapes and also lets you lock several firearms together on one cable. Many states' approved-device lists include both types.

How do I store the key or combination safely?

Keep the key on a separate ring from your everyday house and car keys, and never store it in an obvious spot like a nightstand drawer or a hook near the gun itself. For combination locks, set a code you have not used elsewhere and avoid entering it in view of children, since a lock is only as secure as the secrecy of its key or code.

Does a gun lock replace a gun safe?

No. A trigger or cable lock is a cheap, portable layer that prevents a gun from firing, but it does not stop theft of the firearm itself the way a bolted-down steel safe does. Use a lock for transport, travel, or as a lightweight home layer, and pair it with a proper gun safe for firearms you are not actively carrying — see our gun safe guide for sizing and fire-rating advice.

Conclusion: Which Gun Lock Should You Buy?

For most gun owners, buy the Master Lock 90DSPT: a simple, rubber-padded steel trigger lock with a single key and no subscription, battery, or app. For more than one firearm, the Master Lock 90TRISPT 3-pack keeps every gun on the same key, and for irregular trigger guards or rifles and shotguns, the Lockdown 15" Cable Gun Lock adapts where a rigid trigger lock cannot.

A lock is one layer of responsible firearm ownership: see our guides to the best gun safes for full storage, the best rifle safes for long guns specifically, our best quick-access gun safe guide if speed matters more than a full vault, the best gun cleaning kits to keep them running, the best gun cleaning mat to protect your bench while you do, and the best concealed carry holsters for once the gun leaves the safe, and our best weapon light guide for mounted illumination once it's drawn.